The Judas tree – Cercis siliquastrum is a beautiful rounded bushy tree renowned for its heart-shaped bright green leaves and small pea-like bright lilac-pink flowers. A deciduous tree, it needs to be planted in a warm sheltered sunny position and if happy, you will be rewarded with a wonderful abundance of flowers in late April/May, opening before or with the leaves. Followed by hanging clusters of purple/red flattened seed pods with the leaves turning to yellow in autumn.

Judas trees will thrive on most fertile well-drained soils and is reasonably drought tolerant. A wonderful tree, growing to a height of about 8m x 5m in maturity it is important the Cercis siliquastrum has warmth and protection to flourish thus giving great beauty in a garden. Best grown in the south of the UK. An RHS pollinator for Bees

Cultivation: Ornamental, protection to flourish

Soil: Moist, fertile, well-drained soil. Loam sand chalk clay

Position: Sun, partial shade,

Foliage: Heart-shaped deciduous green leaves

Flowering: Bright lilac pink pea flowers in Late April-May

Fruiting: Purplish-red hanging seed pods

Habit: Rounded small-medium tree

Hardiness: Hardy but needs protection & warmth

Growth: Average

Benefits to Wildlife: Especially bees

Height & Spread in Maturity:  8m x 5m

Of Interest: A native of Southern Europe and Western Asia and thought to have arrived in Britain in the 17^th Century.

A member of the Legume family along with peas and beans Cercis siliquastrum is a tree that hosts Bacteria which can absorb atmospheric nitrogen, making it available in the soil. Commonly known as ‘Nitrogen fixer’ AMAZING